Sign



Feb. 3. 1925. 1,524,668l

M. MILLER ET 4AL i SIGN 0 Filed oct. a'. 1923- Patented Feb. 3, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l SIGN.v

Application filed October 8, 1923. Serial No. 667,106.

T 0 all w 7mm it may con-cern: y

Be it known that we, MARTIN MILLER and HARRY VVE-rss, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that type of sign in which a series of pla-tes of suitably opaque material apertured to represent letters, numerals, or the like are disposed with referencefto suitable illuminating means; such apertured plates being preferably associated vwith transparent or translucent sheets through which sufficient illumination may be transmitted to clearly show, the letter defined. By placing the light transmitting sheets behind the apertured plates, our improved sign is available for day and night USE;

Our improved sign may bein the form o f a hollow shellor frame, made of any suitable material, and in the present instance we have illustrated the same asproviding two -rows of plate receiving openings. It will be understood that a greater or less number of rows o-f openings may be provided as may be desired without departing 'from our invention. Y l

An important object of our invention is to provide a structure which shall be waterproof, and to so arr-ange thelight transmitting sheets and the apertured plates as to shed rain water and prevent the same entering the frame or shell of the improved sign structure.

A. further objectof our inventionJ is to provide simpleA and efficient means for retaining the apertured plates and light transmitting sheets in place, and a still further object is to provide a sign of the described type in which the apertured plates may be quickly inserted or removed, and without disturbing the light transmitting sheets.

These and other features of our invention Vare more fully set forth hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a portion of a sign constructed in accordance with ourinvention.A ,4 Y Fig-2, is'a cross-'sectional'viewfonmthe'line mariguana Fig. 3, is a sectional plan view on the linek 3 3, Fig. 1.

In constructing our improved sign, we may provide a hollow frame 10, having inner and outer marginal flanges 11, with a recessed portion 12 betweenr such flanges in which may be placed, at more or less regular intervals, a series of electric lamps 13.

We have shown in the drawings and will describe a structure `having two rows of sign letters, numerals, characters or the like, but it is obvious that a single row may be employed in which the arrangement of the parts making up-,the same may be like that of the upper or lower row as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawings, and that more than two rows, in which the arrangement of parts may be like those illustrated may also be employed, without departing from our invention.

Mounted within the body of the sign frame and extending longitudinally of the same in the present instance, are a series of horizontal partitions, 15, 15a, 15b and 15C, which may be secured to the rear wall of the structure and extend to the front `of the same. The forward edges of these partitions may be flanged as indicated at 16,16?. n

16b and 16C, and such flanged portions provide, in connection with a series of vertical division strips 17 and 17a, which may be disposed at regular intervals, spaces or openings to receive separate plates 18, which are apertured to indicatev letters, numerals, or other characters that may be employed to make up a display sign.

The-flanged portion 16 of the upper partition 15, projects slightly forward of the inner marginal flange 11 of theframe,jand has a portion 19 which overhangs the verticaldivision strips 17 the flanged portion 16a of the partition 15a, forms a` shelf at the front of the structure upon which the apertured plates 18 of the upper row may rest,

and its forward edge -is turned down, as in-v dicated at 19a, to overhang the flanged portion 16b of the partition 15b and the upper ends of the division strips 17, and the flanged port-ion 16c of the partition 15, also serves as a shelf to support thev apertured plates 18 of the lower row.

The vertical division strips 17 and 1.7*El are inclined forwardly from ltop to bottom, and their lower ends terminate substantially-.op-

posite theI shelves formed by the 4flanged portions of the partitions a and 15e. The lower ends ot' the vertical division strips 17 and 17a may be covered by horizontal division strips 20 and 20a which, with the overlianging portions 19 and 19 ot the par# titions 15 and 15, 'frame the spaces receiving the apertured plates comprising the sign.

Behind the vertical division strips 17 and 17a, we provide a second set oit vertical supports, indicated at 21, each o't which carries a tial: spring member 22, and between said springs and the i'ear Yfaces of the vertical Idivision strips 17 or 1T, we dispose sheets 18Z1 ot a light transmitting body; transparent or translucent glass, for instance, which niay be illuminated by lamps disposedwithin the body of the frame, those indicated at 23 and 23a, for instance, which may be supported by the horizontal partitions 15a and 15C.

rlhe horizontal division strips 2O and 20 are disposed over the lower ends of the vertical division strips 17 and 17a, toi-ward of the front of the fra-ine, so as to provide spaces, indicated at 24s, through which the light transmitting' sheets and the apertured plates may be inserted or removed; the lower part of Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating the manner of yinserting or removing said apertured plates, and the upper part ot said views showing the manner in which said apertured plates and the light transmitting sheets are held in place upon the shelves ot the horizontal partitions '15ZL and 15C. For the purpose of retaining these plates and sheets in place, we provide the shelves with retaining lips 25, disposed opposite each opening; the said sheets and plates being pressed against said lips by the spring memiers 22. In order that the light transmitting sheets 18a may be held against edgewise movement, and prevented from being lifted over the lips when removing Aor inserting the apertured plates 18, we provide a stop which.

may be in the `form of a screw 25, inserted in the overhanging portions 19 oi' 19", and `overlying the top edge of said sheets 18a, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The `overhanging portions 19 and 19 project beyond the lace of the sign structure proper so that any moisture falling upon the same will be shed away troni the body Y of the sign structure, and any rain or moisture which strikes the face` of the apertured plates, or the light transmitting sheets behind the saine, will be diverted and will pass through the spaces Q41 behind the horizontal strips 2O and 2Oa through which said plates and sheets are inserted or removed, and tall away from the sign. y

By reason of our improved construction, the sign structure vis completely waterproof, and a-lldanger of yrainwater or other inoisture entering the interior ol the saine and affecting the electrical connections is avoided. As may be understood, it is a simple matter to lift any one of the apertured plates clear of its retaining lip 25 and remove the saine; the tension ot' the springs 1S) being sutl'icient to Vhold the parts iii position but not sufficient to prevent easy removal or insertion ot the apertui'ed plates. In like manner the light transmitting plates may be inserte-d or removed.

The terni light-transniittiiigi used in the appended claims is intended to cover any torni ot' transparent or translucent. plates employed, and the terni apertured plate7 is intended to cover the removable sign element, whether the aperture thereof indicates a letter, numeral, or any character which may be employed in making up a display le claim: l

1. In a sign, a frame having an opening, a support behind said opening, an apertured vplate disposed in said opening and resting `on said support; the latter being spaced from said trame to provide an opening Vthrough which said apertured plate may be inserted to rest on said support, and means for retaining said apertured plate in position. 1

2. In a sign, a frame having an opening, a support behind said opening and spaced from the lower portion of the same, an apertured plate insertible from the bottom of the frame through said space, and a lip carried by said support behind 'which said plate may rest.

3. In a sign, a traine having a series ot openings, apertured plates disposed behind said openings, supporting means for said plates spaced from the front of the traine at the lower part of said openings whereby said plates may be inserted from the bot-- toni, and a series of lips 'for retaining such plates in position.

t. In a sign, a :trame having an opening, a support behind said opening and spaced from the lower portion of the same, an apertured plate insertible from the bottoni Vof the frame through said space, a lip carried by said support behind which said plate may rest, and tension means for pressing the plate against said lip.

5. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a traine having a series of platereceiving spaces formed therein, supports disposed behind said spaces, means for illu- .ininating said spaces, light transmitting sheets disposed in said spaces, apertured plates disposed in iront o't said light trans- Iinitting sheets; said frame providing open ings forwardly of the supports through which said plates and sheets may be inserted, and means for retaining said plates and sheets in position on said supportsa 6. In an illuminated sign, the combination oi' a frame having a series of platereceiving spaces formed therein, means for illuminating said spaces, a series of light transmitting sheets and a series of apertured plates disposed in said spaces, supports for said sheets and plates; said frame having a division strip in front of said support and forming the lower portion of said plate receiving spaces and said division strip being spaced from the support to permit insertion oit' said sheets and plates from beneath, lips for retaining said plates and sheets in position, and spring means for pressing the plates and sheets against said lips.

7. In a sign, a frame having an opening, a support behind said opening and spaced from the lower portion ot' the same, a series of plates or sheets insertible from the bottom of the frame through said space, a lip carried by said support behind which said plates may rest, and means for preventing edgewi'se movement of one of said plates after it has been positioned.

8. In an illuminated sign, the combination of a frame having a series of platereceiving spaces formed therein, supports disposed behind said spaces, means forv illuminating said spaces, light transmitting sheets disposed in said spaces, apertured plates disposed in front of said light transmitting sheets; said Jframe providing openings forwardly Vof the supports through which said plates and sheets may be inserted, means for retaining said plates and sheets in position, and means for preventing upward movement of said sheets wheninserting or removing the apertured plates@ In testimony whereof we afiX our signatures hereto.

MARTIN MILLER. HARRY WEISS. 

